<p>Alexander Dylan Kraus dreams of turning green into green. </p>
<p>"We need to do environmentalism in a way that's profitable," he says. "We can do it so people want to be more environmentally friendly." Alex applied to 11 colleges and just recently decided to attend Princeton University. His career plans also are set: Making a living through products or services that help to heal a wounded world. </p>
<p>The 17-year-old Cleveland Heights High School student is a National Merit finalist and an all-around whiz with the maximum scores on his ACT, the Ohio Economics Challenge and all 10 of his Advanced Placement tests so far. As a Pre-College Scholar at Case Western Reserve University, Alex has earned 15 credits in mathematics and economics. He also has started a graduate-level math course there.</p>
<p>Alex spent three weeks one summer in a research program at Michigan State University, becoming the first person to sequence a particular gene in three species of euglenoids (one-cell creatures). This month, he's scheduled for three weeks of economics research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. </p>
<p>He is the middle of three sons of Bonnie Brewer-Kraus and Alan Kraus. His father says of Alex, "If he's not challenged, he's not happy." </p>
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<p>Interestingly, Alex will be in good company (no pun intended) with these interests. In 2001, a couple of undergraduates founded an innovative company called TeraCycle which sells organic fertilizer made from earthworm droppings. The company is apparently highly successful at turning green into green.</p>
<p>TerraCycle, Inc.'s cofounder and CEO Tom Szaky seems to have similar thoughts. This company has been called the ultimate in eco-capitalism, a just title. Szaky was one of two students at Princeton in 2001 with a dream: a company could be financially successful while being ecologically and socially responsible. Co-founders Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer were determined to turn their concept into a real-life, commercially viable process.</p>
<p>Why do you feel the need link these articles? Who the **** gives a ****? Everyone at Princeton is talented in his own way, we don't need some stupid small town newspapers to tell us that.</p>
<p>colt45: You have 3 posts, and you are criticizing one of the most helpful posters on this forum. Nobody cares what you think.</p>
<p>PtonGrad: It's funny, Szaky (one of the founders of TerraCycle) went to my high school and gave a speech about it in my senior year... and then gave out free samples of the fertilizer (liquefied worm excrement). And, predictably, fertilizer fights started among all the freshman in the locker rooms. >.></p>
<p>I believe that students interested in applying to Princeton, not to mention other members of the Class of 2012, are curious about the people who will be in next years class. Newspapers across the country like to publish stories such as this one as they take pride in the accomplishments of their local graduates. Im sorry that this has offended you but (at least based on previous comments from other posters who read the Princeton board) these articles seem to be enjoyed.</p>
<p>1of42, thank you for your kind words and thats a great story about the fertilizer fights.</p>
<p>colt45 demonstrates his/her complete ignorance by referring to Cleveland as a "small town". Pray tell, colt45, have you ever set foot or paw in Cleveland?
ptonGrad2000, I love your links! They are inspirational to present and future Princeton students. It is fascinating to read about the diverse paths that students take to Princeton. By the way, there was another future Princeton student in that issue, Angela Groves, a standout basketball player and student activist. I live in Cleveland and think Princeton is fantastic.</p>
<p>Ummm... doesn't at least half of each entering class at Princeton have accomplishments that are at least as stellar as Mr. Kraus? Not to say that his hard work isn't impressive, but what about him makes him stand out any more than any other Princeton student? Sure the research is interesting and acing 10 AP tests is one hell of an accomplishment, but he isn't the first one to do that though is he?</p>